Which other Hollywood blockbuster would dare to throw together America and France as allies in a bitter and bloody war against the sadistic English?

Based on the flaccid bestseller by Michael Crichton, Timeline is an old-fashioned romp with little swash and almost no buckle.

The time-travel logic becomes horribly confused the more the film progresses, as the characters alter history to suit their own ends.

There's no tension or thrills to speak of, action set-pieces are lacklustre, and Walker and Butler are wet, unappealing heroes, especially the latter, who is burdened with a soppy romantic sub-plot involving Anna Friel's French damsel in distress.

The moral of Timeline seems to be that you can't change history.

However, you can change the film's future and wait until it comes out on video.